Mebane approves fire station bids

Published: Monday, December 9, 2013 at 11:40 PM.

MEBANE — The City Council approved bids for the construction of the South Side Fire Station, which the city expects to be completed this time next year.

After receiving bids from 11 building companies, the council approved making a tentative contract with S&S Building & Development in Greensboro, the lowest bidder for the construction of the fire station, for $2,105,864.

The second lowest bid the city received was from Central Builders Inc., of Mebane, and was priced at $2,359,000. In a letter to City Manager David Cheek, Ken Stafford, principal architect at Alley, Williams, Carmen & King in Burlington, said he is familiar with S&S Building & Development, and the company has constructed classroom additions at Altamahaw-Ossippee Elementary and Western Alamance Middle School, along with other public projects in the region.

Currently, the expected cost of the fire station on Mebane Oaks Road is $2.6 million, which includes the design and construction of the building, bidding costs, construction administration and special inspections.

S&S Building & Development provided Mebane the option of constructing a photovoltaic electrical system, or solar panels, for an additional $72,300. The council approved the bid, including the solar panel addition.

“To be environmentally conscious is the responsible thing for us to do these days,” Stafford said to the council.

Stafford said the plan is for builders to operate on a 300-day schedule, and anticipated the fire station to be complete “sometime around Christmas time of next year.”

MEBANE — The City Council approved bids for the construction of the South Side Fire Station, which the city expects to be completed this time next year.

After receiving bids from 11 building companies, the council approved making a tentative contract with S&S Building & Development in Greensboro, the lowest bidder for the construction of the fire station, for $2,105,864.

The second lowest bid the city received was from Central Builders Inc., of Mebane, and was priced at $2,359,000. In a letter to City Manager David Cheek, Ken Stafford, principal architect at Alley, Williams, Carmen & King in Burlington, said he is familiar with S&S Building & Development, and the company has constructed classroom additions at Altamahaw-Ossippee Elementary and Western Alamance Middle School, along with other public projects in the region.

Currently, the expected cost of the fire station on Mebane Oaks Road is $2.6 million, which includes the design and construction of the building, bidding costs, construction administration and special inspections.

S&S Building & Development provided Mebane the option of constructing a photovoltaic electrical system, or solar panels, for an additional $72,300. The council approved the bid, including the solar panel addition.

“To be environmentally conscious is the responsible thing for us to do these days,” Stafford said to the council.

Stafford said the plan is for builders to operate on a 300-day schedule, and anticipated the fire station to be complete “sometime around Christmas time of next year.”

The council approved a proposal from BB&T bank for a 2.84 percent, 15-year fixed-interest financing agreement for the project. Mebane also received 10-year financing proposals from BB&T, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and PNC, but preferred a 15-year agreement, Cheek said.

The new fire station will require the extension of water and sewer lines, and the council approved a low bid from J.F. Wilkerson Contracting in Morrisville to complete the work for $480,875. The bid was within the original project estimate of $579,000, and was $70,000 less than the second-lowest bidder. The company is currently constructing water and sewer extensions in Orange County’s Economic Development District.

Council members adopted a resolution stating the city’s intent to annex property on the site of the future fire station. The 1.5 acres on being annexed is in the Melville Township, and adjoins land owned by Agape Baptist Church, ASH Partners and a 60-foot right of way of Mebane Oaks Road. The city must now advertise and hold a public hearing to adopt an ordinace to extend the corporate limits, according to Cheek, though a date was not set.